An original, hope-filled story told well.
The Christian edition of Bombaci’s award-winning memoir (Hogan’s Hope: A Deaf Hero’s Inspirational Quest for Love and Acceptance, 2017) about a deaf dog with astounding abilities.
When Hogan the Dalmatian came into Bombaci’s life, the dog was battered, malnourished, and longing for a loving home. But at least the previous owners didn’t euthanize him, a disturbingly common practice with deaf Dalmatians. His life began a new and bright chapter when he was adopted by Bombaci, who saw his potential more than his limitations. She and her husband, Jim, began learning ASL, eventually teaching Hogan more than 70 words. They also underwent rigorous desensitization with him, counterconditioning the fearful reactions he learned during his abused youth. In addition to now having affectionate and dedicated owners, Hogan enjoyed the canine companionship of India, the family’s black Lab, and, later, Georgia, another adopted deaf Dalmatian. He also loved people of all ages, and the author includes a particularly touching account of an elderly man whose bitter heart was softened by Hogan’s “unwavering devotion and steadfast friendship.” Hogan’s fame quickly grew, and he and Bombaci were featured in numerous publications and television productions (including Oprah), spreading the vital message that pervades this book: “All God’s creations are worthy of receiving thoughtful consideration, good treatment, and genuine love. No matter the age, size, characteristics, or type, each is capable of living a wonderful, rewarding life.” Bombaci’s writing reads effortlessly, exploring themes that extend far beyond the canine world. She also ably demonstrates Hogan’s character development from a scared and scrawny pup to a handsome, highly intelligent dog full of energy and love—a life-affirming transformation. This Christian version is essentially the same as the original except garnished with Bible verses that bring a faith-filled ambience to the book. The book’s organization lacks nothing, taking readers on the step-by-step journey of Hogan’s life; its universal, empowering message gives it the potential to reach a much wider audience than just dog lovers.
An original, hope-filled story told well.Pub Date: March 29, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5320-4335-2
Page Count: 146
Publisher: iUniverse
Review Posted Online: Aug. 21, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An intriguing look at an unusual religious and medical phenomenon. Harrison, a former religious affairs correspondent for the BBC, investigates historical and contemporary reports of stigmata, the strange bleeding marks that are said to resemble the wounds suffered by Jesus at the Crucifixion. Having interviewed both physicians and those who suffer from the stigmata, he tells us that the marks appear most often on the hands and feet but can appear as stripes on the back, where Jesus was supposed to have been scourged, or on the side where, according to the Gospels, he was pierced by a spear. The first documented case of the lesions happened to St. Francis of Assisi in 1224. Since then, it is estimated, 300 or more people have suffered the wounds. Are these the result of excessive religious fervor and mental imbalance manifesting itself physically? Or are the wounds a gift from God, a sign of blessing given to the truly faithful? Almost all the reported cases have come from poor Catholics living in Mediterranean countries. Officially, the Vatican admits the possibility that the marks are miraculous in origin while looking skeptically on any individual case. Medical science has scrutinized reported cases for 200 years. According to the scientific view, the wounds are the product of emotional stress. Women afflicted outnumber men by a ratio of seven to one. The wounds are more common in religious communities and monasteries. Recent years have witnessed an increase of cases in England and Latin America. The phenomenon is no longer confined to Catholics. And the United States has produced the first non-Caucasian sufferers as Native Americans and African-Americans have experienced the phenomenon. The author believes that global conditions (poverty, stress, a rise in charismatic Christianity) are right for an increase in reported cases. Fascinating and well told, this tale of religious fervor will appeal to believers and skeptics alike.
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-312-11372-2
Page Count: 160
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1994
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Twenty professional philosophers tell how they combine intellectual rigor with religious commitment. Although most of the great philosophers have believed in God, argues Morris (Philosophy/Notre Dame; The Logic of God Incarnate, not reviewed), many Americans today reckon that religion and reason are diametrically opposed. With this collection of essays, Morris assembles a cross section of scholars who effectively challenge this assumption. In brief chapters, the philosophers touch on themes such as their upbringing, conversion or religious development, and the ideas and thinkers who have most influenced them (Immanuel Kant, William James, and C.S. Lewis are among the most often mentioned). The general tone, however, is more personal than scholarly. We are treated to insights into the connection between spiritual life and the love of learning, as well as discussions of more obvious philosophical problems such as the nature of objectivity and the rational grounds required for religious assent. Eleanore Stump offers a moving account of how confrontation with the problem of evil can cause us to seek, rather than reject, God. Peter van Inwagen questions the basic assumptions of the Enlightenment, which he believes continue to distort our view of religion. David Shatz speaks of the dual program of Torah and secular studies at New York's Yeshiva University and of the intense relationship between religion and study in Orthodox Judaism. Morris lets his authors speak for themselves, without attempting to draw together what has been said. Although he provides a broad spectrum of Christian viewpoints, some readers will regret the absence of Islamic and Buddhist perspectives and of any discussion of the classical syntheses of faith and reason, such as that of St. Thomas Aquinas. The honesty and humanity with which these controversial themes are treated make for attractive reading.
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-19-508822-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Oxford Univ.
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1994
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